Long Branch, NJ Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

A. and establishes the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission. Section 345-129 governs designation of historic landmarks: the Commission may recommend guidelines to the Planning Board for reviewing landmark status, sites-of-historic-interest status, and development applications affecting historic properties, with the Planning Board making the final call on adopting those guidelines. Under § 345-129B, the Commission builds a designation list covering buildings, structures, objects, sites and districts that merit protection for their integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship or association, drawing on the Historic Preservation Plan Element of the City's Master Plan, its own review, or recommendations from other City bodies or residents, excluding properties inside the 1996 redevelopment plan area.

Section 345-129C requires a public hearing on proposed designations, and critically, if a property owner appears or writes to object before or at that hearing, the property cannot be designated under any circumstances. Notice must go out by certified mail at least 10 days ahead (§ 345-129D), and after the hearing the Commission reports its recommendations to the Planning Board, which schedules final designation between 15 and 45 days after publication (§ 345-129E). The City Council then approves, rejects or modifies the designation list by ordinance (§ 345-129F), after which it is filed with the Tax Collector and Assessor and recorded on the tax rolls (§ 345-129G).